Signal



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SIGNAL Filed NOV. 18, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 WUZZWZQQZK Hnmnrurs Jan 7 193% c. w. CURRAH ET AL SIGNAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov.

Emucmnrs Patented Jan. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES SIGNAL Gharles W. Currah and William E. Funk, Spokane, Wash.

Application November 18, 1933, Serial No. 698,704

2 Claims.

This invention relates to automobile signals or direction indicators, and aims to provide driving signals operating in conjunction with the lamps of the headlights of a vehicle, for indicating to approaching motor vehicle operators, the direction of travel to be taken by the vehicle equipped with the signal device.

An important object of the invention is to provide means controlled by the operator of the vehicle for operating color screens in the headlights, causing the headlights to project colored light rays, as a signal to approaching drivers.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatically operated switch mechanism, controlled by the action of the motor, forming a part of the operating mechanism of each headlight signal, whereby the electric circuits to the motors will be broken, after the motors have moved the color screens to predetermined positions.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a motor vehicle headlight equipped with a signalling device, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmental, horizontal, sectional view through the upper portion of the headlight as shown by Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the switches that are controlled automatically by the action of the motor.

Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the circuits to the lamps and motors.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a lamp housing is indicated generally by the reference character 5, and is supplied with the usual reflector 6 and headlight lens 1.

The reference character 8 designates an elongated lamp socket support, that extends through a central opening, formed in the reflector 6, as clearly shown by Figure 1 of the drawings.

Within the lamp housing, are supporting bars 9, that have their ends secured Within the lamp housing by means of the bolts ID, the supporting bars providing a support for the tubular housing II, that extends horizontally of the lamp housing, and forms a part of the reflector 6.

Operating within the tubular housing H, is a tubular supporting member I2, which is constructed of glass or celluloid, which in turn provides a support for the color screen l3, that is also tubular in formation, and so constructed that it fits snugly within the tubular supporting member [2. A cut out portion or slot Ill is formed longitudinally of the tubular housing I I, and accommodates the lug l5, that forms a part of the tubular supporting member l2.

Pivotally connected with the lug I5, is a link I 5, which also has pivotal connection with the link I! that in turn is connected with the rotary shaft l8, to move therewith.

This rotary shaft I8 is supplied with a segmental gear l9, that is in mesh with the worm 20 formed on the shaft 2|, that forms a part of the motor 22, the motor 22 being supported between the plates 23, by means of the brackets 24. One of these plates 23 provides a support for the bracket 25, that has laterally extended arms 26, to which the switch members 2'1 and 28 are connected, the switch members being arranged in pairs and embodying yieldable contact arms, the arms of each pair being normally in contact with each other.

Secured tothe shaft I8, is a blade 29, constructed of suitable insulating material, the blade being so constructed that it may be moved between the switch members, breaking the circuit to the motor, in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described.

The headlights are indicated by the reference letters A and B, while the rear signal lights or tail lights are indicated by the reference letters C and .D.

The reference character 39 designates a wire leading to the headlight A and provides one of the Wires of the circuit between the lamp and source of electricity supply 3|. Wire 32 connects with the wire 30 and also connects with the wire 33, which leads to the switch 34, that is mounted on the steering wheel of the vehicle, or in proximity to the steering wheel so that the operator will have easy access thereto.

When the switch member 34 has been moved to the position as shown in full lines in Figure 4 of the drawings, the circuit is completed through the switch member and through the wire 3'5, to the switch member 28, energizing the motor 22, operating the color screen l3, moving the color screen to its inactive position.

The return circuit is made through the wire 3?, switch member 34, wire 38, which is in circuit with the rear light C to ground.

It will, of course, be seen that the wire 32 connects with the headlight B, so that both headlights as well as the tail-light C are illuminated when the switch 34 is closed.

When the circuit has been completed in a manner as described, and the motor has operated the color screen, the switch blade 29 moves to the position shown by Figure 1 of the drawings, or to a position between the switch members 28, braking the circuit to the motor, stopping the motor, and holding the color screen in its outermost or active position.

When the main switch has been operated to complete the circuit to the motor, the motor shaft is rotated whereupon the blade 29 moves from its position between the switch members 2i. The circuit to the motor will now be completed through wire 30, wire 40, wire 4| and switch member 34, which has been moved to the dotted line position, shown by Figure. 4 of the drawings, from where the current flows through wire 42, switch members 27, wire 43 to the motor, the return circuit being made through the wire 54, switch member 34 and to the ground, through the wire 45. When the bladeZS moves between the switch members 28, the circuit to the motor is broken and the motor immediately stops running.

The circuits described, are the circuits controlling the operation of the motor and color screen, located in headlight A.

Should it be desired to operate the motor and color screen in headlight B to move the color screen to its active position, the switch member A6 is moved from a position as shown by Figure 4 in dotted lines, to a position as shown in full lines, the position of the switch blade 29 in this headlight, being the position it assumes, after the motor and color screen of the headlight B have been operated.

With the switch blade in this position, the circuit is completed to the motor in headlight B, through the wires 36 and G0, switch member 46, Wire 4?, switch members 21 of the headlight B, and wire 48, which is shown as leading to the motor.

The return circuit is made through the wire 39 to switch member i6, and ground wire 51. With the circuit completed as described, the motor 22 of the headlight'B operates to move the color screen to its inactive position, and with this movement of the color screen the switch blade 29 moves between the switch members 21, breaking the circuit to the motor, causing the motor to stop, whereupon the color screen has moved to its inactive position and will be held in such position, .until again operated.

With thecolor screen-of the headlight B in its inactive position, the switch member #6, controlling the circuits to the motor of the headlight B, is moved to the dotted line position as shown by Figure 4 of the drawings. With the switch member 46 in this position, the circuit is completed to the motor, through the wire 32, wire 52, switch member '36, wire 53, through switch members 28, which are now contacting, and through wire 54 to the motor, the return circuit being made through the wire 55, through the switch member 46, to the rear light D, and ground wire 39.

Under normal conditions the circuits to the headlights A and B, which are of the double filament type, are made through the wires 30, 32, 56 and 51, the circuits being controlled by the main switch member 58, adapted to engage the contact 10 points 59, controlling the bright and dim lighting of the headlights.

It might be further stated that an opening 60 is formed in the reflector'of the headlights, near the upper edge thereof, which opening is arranged directly under the sight opening 6| of the lamp casing, so that light rays from the lamp of the headlight, may be projected through the casing, indicating to the operator of the vehicle, whether the color screen is in its active or inactive position.

In view of the foregoing detailed disclosure, it is believe-d that a further description as to the operation of the color screens, is unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is: r

1. In a headlight, a body portion, a reflector positioned in the body portion, a forwardly extended horizontally disposed lamp within the body portion, vertical supporting bars within the body portion, brackets secured to the vertical supporting bars, plates secured to the brackets and supported in spaced relation with each other, a main shaft, the ends of the shaft being mounted in bearings formed in the supporting plates, a segmental gear mounted on the shaft, a motor mounted between the plates and having a shaft,

a worm on the shaft meshing with the segmental gear, a tubular color screen operating over the lamp, a link connected to the main shaft, a link 46 connecting the first mentioned link and color screen whereby movement of the main shaft is transmitted to the color screen moving the color screen with respect to the lamp.

2. In a headlight, a body portion, a reflector mounted within the body portion and having a central opening, a lamp extending through the central opening, spaced supporting bars within the housing, a tubular housing mounted between the spaced supporting bars and forming a part of 5 the reflector, a tubular color screen mounted within the tubular housing, a lug extending from the tubular color screen, a link pivotally connected to one end of the lug, a horizontal shaft mounted within the housing, a link pivotally con-- 55 nected with the first mentioned link and secured on the shaft to move therewith, a segmental gear on one end of the shaft, a motor mounted within the body portion and having a shaft supplied with a worm meshing with the segmental gear whereby 50 rotary movement of the motor is transmitted to the first-mentioned shaft, a link rigidly mounted on the shaft and pivotally connected with the first mentioned link, operating the links and screen, when the shaft rotates moving the color '5 screen to its extended or retracted position.

CHARLES W. CURRAH. WILLIAM E. FUNK. 

